[01] The self-styled Minister of Finance met with British citizens who
live in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Illegal Bayrak television (04.08.09) broadcast the following:

A technical-level meeting has been held at the Ministry of Finance with
the aim of bringing solutions to the problems being faced by British
citizens living in the Republic in buying immovable properties, getting
residence permits and to eliminate the hardships they experience at the
customs.

Colin Mulcahy, British Residents Society Government Liaison Officer
told reporters before the meeting that the number of British citizens
living in the Republic is increasing day by day and that problems they
are facing at government offices should be solved.

For his part, the Minister of Finance Ersin Tatar said that fresh
efforts are being made by the government to solve the problems being
faced by some 10-thousand British citizens living in the TRNC.

The Minister explained that the UBP Government made new regulations to
bring solutions to their problems, adding that they will not be facing
with similar hardships anymore. British citizens will make more
investments in the country if they feel more at home, he said.

The vice-Chairman of the British Residents Society Stephan Day voiced
their pleasure to see officials from the Interior Ministry at the
meeting, thanking Mr Tatar for receiving them.

The Interior Ministrys Undersecretary Kamil Kayral, the deputy-Director
of the Immigration Department Hasan Hacioglu was also present at the
technical level meeting which was chaired by Minister of Finance Ersin
Tatar.

Under the title Shock: The Orams were left without a lawyer, Turkish
Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (05.08.09) reports that the law
office named Vahib & Co, which represented the British couple David and
Linda Orams in the critical case which concerns very closely the
property issue in Cyprus, has stopped its operation. The statement on
this matter was issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in
Britain.

The paper notes that the SRA did not mention whether the firm decided
itself to stop its operation or this decision belonged to the SRA. Star
Kibris writes that Vahib & Co stopped its operation as of 10 July and
this fact caused shock. SRA officials have reportedly told the paper
that as of 10 July 2009 the files of the cases handled by the Vahib &
Co were delivered to other companies and that this transfer was carried
out with the consent of the clients of the firm.

Reminding that the Orams case will be examined by the British Court of
Appeal on 11 and 12 November, the paper wonders who will represent the
Orams couple in the trial and adds that the above-mentioned couple
heard the bad news from Star Kibris correspondent.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The Protestants living in the occupied areas demand a church where
they would be able to practise freely their worship

Under the title They will kill me, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis
newspaper (05.08.09) reports that Pastor Kemal Basaran, who is
Protestant and the leader of 200 families in the occupied areas of
Cyprus, has told the paper that he is threatened very often and he has
even been beaten up. The paper writes, inter alia, the following:

The Turkish Cypriots who belong to various religions in our country
want to live freely with their religions. The Turkish Cypriots, the
Bulgarian Turks and the Turks from Turkey, who are Protestants and
consist of approximately 200 families, demand a church where they would
be able to practise freely their worship.

In statements to the paper Kemal Basaran said, inter alia, the
following: My democratic will is under occupation. There are 500
thousand people from Turkey in this country and with various
associations they have established they are expressing support to the
Koran lessons. Very well, then let me teach as well. The states must
keep the same distance from all the religions. They must approach in
the same manner every religion. Mosques are being built everywhere, but
we do not have a place to meet. ...

I often receive threats against my life. I am used to them now. I am
expecting to be killed. They have written many times that they will
kill me in front of my door. Once I received a phone call from a
village that they want a Gospel in the Turkish language. There was an
imam there as well and those who were around him attacked me....

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.08.09) reports that after
the raid in the primary school in occupied Gypsou village, a second
raid was carried out yesterday in the primary school of occupied
Kythrea by the Turkish Cypriot primary and secondary school teachers
trade unions. Around 40 students of various ages were receiving Koran
lessons in the Arabic language in the above-mentioned school.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.09) reports that the
National Solidarity Association, the Association for Rights and
Freedoms and the Democratic Rights and Beliefs Platform criticized the
trade unions which prevented the Koran lesson yesterday in Gypsou and
expressed the opinion that such lessons should take place.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.09) reports that
referring to the same issue, the General Secretary of the Youth
Executive Council of the New Cyprus Party (YKP), Nevzat Hami issued a
statement noting that Turkey is exerting efforts to assimilate the
Turkish Cypriots with impositions such as the Koran lessons, the flags
placed along the roads and the monuments erected in various places.

The statement says, inter alia, the following: Giving Koran classes by
using the institutions of the state which is a part of the assimilation
policies, leaves the Cypriot population, which in any case is the
minority, under social pressure because of the population transferred
from Turkey. The subordinate administration which recently installed
flags and monuments in many places, roads and crossing points with its
increasing chauvinistic policies during the last years, is exerting
efforts for the non-solution under the control of Turkey.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.08.09) reports that the
occupied areas of Cyprus have been turned into an arena of protests and
notes that activities were organized everywhere yesterday. Afrika
writes that a protest against the package imposed by Ankara was
organized yesterday in front of the self-styled prime ministers office,
while Guc-Sen trade union went on strike at the customs services of the
ports.

Representing 26 trade unions, KTOS, KTOEOS, KTAMS, Dev-Is, BES and
Revolutionary Genel Is trade unions protested yesterday in front of the
prime ministers office against the decision of the government to pay
inflation-linked salary increases once every six months, instead of
once every two months.

Furthermore, the paper writes that next week the workers in the health
sector and the Kamu-Sen trade union will go on strike protesting
against the decision of the government regarding the over-time
payments.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot Public Servants Trade Union (KTAMS) started a
strike at illegal Tymvou airport as of today protesting against the
decision of the government regarding the over-time payments. The
flights of the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines will be delayed.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Rauf Denktas alleges that the island will be bound to Turkey if
the Greek Cypriots continue to have the same head

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.09) reports that the
former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas alleged that if the Greek
Cypriots continue to have the same head, the development which they do
not want the most will happen and the island will be bound to Turkey.

We will not have any complaint from such a development, we will attain
permanent peace, said Mr Denktas in statements yesterday during a
meeting with a delegation of women from the occupied Keryneia Akdeniz
[Mediterranean Sea] Lions Club. Mr Denktas said that like the women who
protect their children, the community should also protect its state. Mr
Denktas called on the women to protect their children like Motherland
Turkey protects Cyprus, its daughter land.

Mr Denktas alleged that the Turkish Cypriots started the negotiations
saying that they do not want a state and wished for the Turkish Cypriot
leader Talat to appreciate that he should change this stance after the
difficulties he faced and to reach an agreement with Turkey.

Alleging that the negotiations which are going on within the framework
of a single sovereignty and a single people are tantamount to
annihilating a child who became 26 years old, Mr Denktas claimed that
no one should accept this. He argued that the doors for the
annihilation of the community will be opened when it remains without a
state and sovereignty.

Supreme Military Council (YAS) made public on Tuesday the decisions it
made in its August meeting.

Navy Commander Adm. Esref Ugur Yigit was appointed as Naval Forces
Commander by replacing Adm. Metin Atac who will retire as of August 30,
2009.War Academies Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay was appointed as Air
Forces Commander by replacing Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Land Forces Commander Gen.
Isik Kosaner and Gendarmery Forces Commander Gen. Atila Isik will
continue their duties for one more year.

Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz was appointed as First
Army Commander by replacing Gen. Ergin Saygun who will retire as of
August 30, 2009. According to the YAS decisions, 34 generals and
admirals rose to an upper rank, while 46 colonels became generals and
admirals in Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Also, the duties of 54 generals
and admirals were extended for one year.YAS also dispelled --with
majority of votes-- three TSK personnel as they have adopted
fundamentalist views and acted accordingly.

Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet, Milliyet and Sabah report today
(05.08.09) about the appointments made by the Supreme Military Council
(YA^), and they publish the list of the new commanders of the three
branches of armed forces and the name of the officers who were
promoted. Cumhuriyet reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
put an annotation regarding the dismissal of officers from the Armed
forces for their reactionary activities.

Meanwhile, under the title Zorlu in Cyprus for one more year, Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.08.09) reports that the Supreme
Military Council in Turkey (YAS) announced yesterday the army officers
who have been promoted and those whose term of service was extended.
The term of service of lieutenant general Hilmi Akin Zorlu, commander
of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus, was extended for one more
year.

Three Turkish journalists who were taken into custody by Greek Coast
Guard and later released arrived at Kas port of southern province of
Antalya on Tuesday.

The journalists were taken into custody offshore Kas town while trying
to take footage and photos of the Greek military presence on an island
at a small distance.

One of the journalists, Bekir Onen San of Daily Sabah, said they saw a
church, buildings and many soldiers on the island. San said Greek Coast
Guard took them into custody shortly after they took footage of the
island, "Greek soldiers did not want us to talk on the phone. However,
we managed to inform our friends. Greek soldiers watched the footage
and photos."

Journalists who set sail Tuesday towards Karaada upon rumors that Greek
soldiers erected the Greek flag in the island, was approached by Greek
Coast Guard who took the three reporters, their driver and the captain
of the boat into custody.Turkish reporters who were heading towards
Karaada witnessed the event and notified the Turkish Coast guard who
immediately dispatched a Turkish Coast Guard boat to the region.

Turkish Coast Guard contacted the Greek Coast Guard over the phone and
the Turkish journalists were released immediately.

The islands, islets and rocks in the Aegean which were not ceded to
Greece by international treaties, the decision of Greece to broaden its
territorial waters over 6 nautical miles, continental shelf, air space,
the flight information region and demilitarization of islands are the
top Aegean problems between Turkey and Greece. Turkey believes that
all problems should be addressed as a whole together within the whole
range of means for their peaceful solutions that are set forth in
Article 33 of the UN Charter. Greece on the other hand advocates that
there is no problem in the Aegean between Turkey and Greece other than
the delimitation of the continental shelf which should be resolved only
through recourse to the International Court of Justice.

Moreover, A.A. reported from Ankara the following:

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Burak Ozugergin said on Tuesday that
detention of Turkish journalists by Greek authorities was regardless of
question.

Speaking to journalists, Ozugergin said some news reports appeared
saying Greek Coast Guard took some Turkish journalists into custody,
"Greek Coast Guard authorities stopped some Turkish journalists who
wanted to take photographs near the island and asked about the aim of
them. Turkish journalists returned to Kas town after talks between the
Turkish and Greek coast guard boats in the region," he added.

The spokesman said Turkish Foreign Ministry launched necessary
initiatives on the issue.

The Turkish energy minister said on Tuesday that Russia was interested
in providing resources for Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline.

Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz held a
joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Ivanovich
Shmatko in the Turkish capital of Ankara, and said Russia was
interested in providing oil and other resources for the Samsun-Ceyhan
pipeline.

Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline is a crude oil pipeline between Black Sea oil
terminal in Samsun and Mediterranean oil terminal in Ceyhan in Turkey.
The aim of this project is to provide an alternative route for Russian
and Kazakhstan's oil and to ease the traffic burden of the Istanbul and
Canakkale Straits.

"We will sign a protocol to this end," Yildiz said before the
Turkish-Russian Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting. Yildiz said the
two countries would also sign a protocol on peaceful use of nuclear
energy, and a memorandum of understanding between the Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO) and Rosneft, the integrated petroleum company owned
by the Russian government.

The Turkish minister said that feasibility works would be carried out
for the South Stream Project which would transport Russian natural gas
to the Black Sea, Bulgaria and further to Italy and Austria, and they
would later assess a partnership in the project and the use of
territorial waters. The South Stream project would partly replace the
planned extension of Blue Stream from Turkey through Bulgaria and
Serbia to Hungary and Austria, and is seen as rival to the planned
Nabucco pipeline. The completion is due by 2015.

Also, Shmatko said that some Turkish companies including Aksa, Calik,
Tetas, and Russian companies such as Rosneft, Gazprom and Interrau
would sign deals on electricity, natural gas and oil.

Following are the summaries of reports and commentaries of selected
items from the Turkish press on 4 August 2009:

a) Kurdish Issue: In an article entitled "The deaf, the dumb and the
blind...[ellipsis as published]," in Hurriyet Daily News columnist
Cuneyt Ulsever argues that there are some methodological errors in the
ruling Justice and Development Party's handling of its plan to resolve
the Kurdish question. Pointing out that the government only listens to
intellectuals and groups close to the ruling party and refuses to allow
others to express their views, Ulsever comments: "The correct method is
for the government to take all political risks, make solid suggestions,
and open them to broad discussion."

In an article entitled "A civil coup," in Hurriyet columnist Enis
Berberoglu asserts that the ruling party intends to prepare the ground
for what he describes as a civil coup designed to silence its critics
and to enable Turkey to assume a mission intended to provide a secure
route for the flow of Kurdish and Arab crude oil after tackling the
Kurdish problem. He says: "They will try to stage a civil coup rather
than a military one. The Turkish Armed Forces, a faithful ally of the
United States, will be silenced and the members of a religious
community, another faithful ally of the United States, will be sent to
the battlefront." Berberoglu also cautions that the government's plan
may eventually fuel Turkish nationalism and radical secularism.

Criticizing the government's plan in his article entitled "What
happened to 'Ataturk model'?" in Milliyet columnist Fikret Bila
emphasizes that devising a separatist model based on ethnicity,
granting political autonomy to Kurds, and writing a new constitution
prescribing that there are two nations and two official languages would
conflict with the underlying principles of the model established by
Kemal Ataturk. He comments: "Such a model would be a different 'Turkey
model' which would be tantamount to accelerating a process of
disintegration rather than a solution. This process could make the
Republic of Turkey which is based on a 'unitary system' and 'national
unity' history and eventually transform into a process preparing the
ground for a 'Greater Kurdistan Model.' Demands being voiced by the PKK
and the DTP are actually aimed to achieve that goal."

In an article entitled "Devlet Bahceli's dangerous game," in Milliyet
columnist Hasan Cemal, who was among a group of columnists who
expressed their opinions about the Kurdish question at the Police
Academy, accuses Nationalist Action Party leader Devlet Bahceli of
trying to hinder efforts to settle the Kurdish question and to
undermine peace and stability. He says: "No politician would turn his
back on peace and attempt to take advantage of violence and fears. Such
a political approach would only lead to blood and tears."

Criticizing Bahceli for using hate speech in his statements about the
Kurdish issue in his article entitled "It is a sin to sabotage the
'Kurdish overture,'" Radikal columnist Cengiz Candar criticizes Bahceli
for making comments about the Kurdish question which indicated that he
would pursue a policy leading to ethnic polarization and continued
fighting. He says: "I felt embarrassed because I had argued that he
should also be involved in a possible dialogue and not predicted that
he would act like a 'blood monger' at a time when hopes for peace which
could stop fighting in Turkey are unprecedentedly blossoming among
millions of people."

In an article entitled "What is wrong with this?" in Vatan columnist
Rusen Cakir analyzes reasons which might have prompted Bahceli to level
accusations against him and other columnists who attended the
workshop. Emphasizing that he has not done anything wrong by taking
part in the workshop, Cakir concludes by saying: "Nobody should doubt
that I will continue to contribute to the current process because I
sincerely desire the settlement of the Kurdish question."

In an article entitled "The Kurdish solution," in Milliyet columnist
Derya Sazak says that opinions recently expressed by Minister of
Interior Besir Atalay about the Kurdish question only reflect his
desire to make sincere efforts to tackle the issue, adding that there
is actually no model or project for the time being. Emphasizing that
there is a suitable environment in the region which could facilitate a
possible solution, Sazak notes: "Relations with the United States and
the government in northern Iraq are at the best level since the
invasion of Iraq in 2003. Unlike the Bush Administration, Obama is
aware that he can maintain stability in the north only by using
diplomacy that would not disturb Turkey while trying to pull the United
States out of the morass in Iraq. The PKK's threat will eventually
vanish as normalization is achieved in the Kurdish region." Sazak also
says that convincing the PKK to lay down arms will be the main
challenge during that process.

In an article entitled "What is Barzani's role in the Kurdish
question?" in Radikal columnist Deniz Zeyrek says that a decision
adopted in a recent meeting of the National Security Council and
diplomatic activities indicate that Turkey will take a constructive
stand toward Kurdish leaders in Iraq and try to convince them to
cooperate against the PKK rather than resorting to pressure. He says:
"If the PKK agrees to lay down arms as a result of overtures in Turkey,
Barzani will play a key role in various issues such as closing down PKK
camps in Qandil, status of the organization's leaders, and permitting
PKK militants who may not want to return to Turkey to stay in Qandil."
He concludes by saying that Barzani may soon pay a visit to Turkey as
part of plans devised behind closed doors.

In an article entitled "We should not daydream," Vatan columnist Gungor
Mengi emphasizes that the opportunity to resolve the Kurdish question
should not be missed. He says: "Unfortunately, the ruling party's
desire to find a solution is not based on sufficient preparation. A
meeting held at the Police Academy by the Minister of Interior with a
group of journalists who share the view that the government should make
unilateral concessions, reminded me of a man who tries to overcome his
fear by whistling while walking through a graveyard. The government
must unveil a plan in respect of which it can assume responsibility.
Similarly, the opposition parties should avoid making statements and
taking actions which could eventually be regarded as attempts to
sabotage the process."

In an editorial entitled "Who will account for our martyrs?" Cumhuriyet
columnist Ilhan Selcuk speculates about possible motives behind the
government's plan about the Kurdish issue. He says: "Reasons and
statements highlighted in the media about this issue have a common
point: The United States is withdrawing its forces from Iraq. The PKK
can no longer survive. There is a suitable environment for resolving
the Kurdish question and this is what Obama desires to see. It is a
realistic explanation. But, it is hair-raising for Turkey. It indicates
that the United States has backed the PKK so far. The real enemy was
not the PKK, but the United States."

In an article entitled "Erdogan-Turk meeting: a confidence-building
step", in Taraf columnist Yasemin Congar says that a meeting which is
expected to take place between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Democratic Society Party leader Ahmet Turk this week may be the first
step aimed at convincing Kurds that the government is sincere in its
efforts to resolve the Kurdish problem.

In an article entitled "A super family: Kurds, a super solution: making
peace" in Yeni Safak columnist Ozlem Albayrak warns that the new
process started by the ruling AKP's "Kurdish overture" will see
nationalist groups accuse the Erdogan government of betraying the
country by making major concessions to Kurdish groups. She also
criticizes the "Kurdish report" prepared by the main opposition
Republican People's Party, CHP, in a "counter-attack" against the AKP's
initiative, asserting that the CHP's insistence in this report that an
amended constitution should be free of an ethnic emphasis and include
the provision that "every citizen of the Republic of Turkey is called a
Turk" could be perceived as "a new declaration of war" because it is
tantamount to asking citizens of Kurdish origin to call themselves
Turks.

In an article entitled "Discussing the Southeast with Numan Kurtulmus"
in Vakit columnist Serdar Arseven highlights Felicity Party, SP, leader
Numan Kurtulmus' following messages regarding the Government's "Kurdish
overture" in an interview held in Safranbolu, Karabuk: 1. It would be
wrong to oppose the effort to solve the Kurdish problem simply because
it is being conducted by the ruling AKP. 2. It would be "extremely
wrong to exclude the DTP [Democratic Society Party] or another group
from this process." 3. Turkey should confront and deal with
extra-judicial killings, practices that undermine the freedom of
religious faith and conscience, and other manifestations of state
coercion. 4. While the "southeast issue" is not the result merely of
economic factors, any solution initiative should entail creating
employment opportunities in the region and replacing neoliberal
policies with a public investment program.

In an article in Zaman columnist Mumtazer Turkone criticizes
Nationalist Action Party, MHP, leader Devlet Bahceli for responding to
the Government's plan to solve the Kurdish question by targeting
certain journalists who support the AKP's bid and announcing that the
MHP will "take to the mountains" if the Government presses ahead with
this project. Turkone claims that the MHP is trying to protect the
nation state by deepening the crisis and to "counterbalance Kurdish
political demands by creating a center of gravity on the opposite
pole." Explaining what is "wrong" with this strategy," Turkone argues
that the MHP's reaction to the Government's Kurdish plan threatens to
damage Turkey's unity by paving the way for a Kurdish-Turkish
conflict.

In an article entitled "Essentials of the 'Turkey model'", in Zaman
columnist Sahin Alpay argues that the "Turkey model" that the
Government is trying to create as part of its effort to solve the
"Kurdish issue" should include the following components. 1. The
political dimension: the Government should "recognize all aspects of
the Kurdish identity" following a process of dialog with all legitimate
political and intellectual representatives of Kurds. 2. The security
dimension: Ankara should grant an amnesty for all "ordinary" PKK
militants and allow them to engage in politics. 3. The economic
dimension: New investments in the region are not feasible unless the
PKK lays down arms. 4. The international dimension: Turkey should win
the respect and confidence of all regional Kurds by promoting the
fundamental rights and freedoms of its Kurdish citizens.

In an article entitled "Proposals for a solution to the Kurdish
problem", in Zaman columnist Ihsan Dagi asserts that replacing the
definition of citizenship in the current Constitution with the one in
the 1924 Constitution ["The people of Turkey are called Turkish in
terms of citizenship regardless of religious or racial differences"]
could be an initial step toward addressing the "Kurdish issue"
successfully.

In an article entitled "Kurdish issue needs more than Democratic
reforms", in Today's Zaman columnist Kerim Balci asserts that to be
able to solve the Kurdish problem, Turkey needs "a new constitution
prepared in such a way that it will deconstruct our imagined identities
and start from scratch to build an amalgam of celebrated differences."

In an article entitled "One more step and ...", in Milli Gazete
columnist Hasan Unal argues that what the Erdogan government calls its
"Kurdish overture" is part of a plan to unite Turkey with the "puppet
state" in northern Iraq. He warns that this project entails Turkey's
transformation into a federal state. He goes on to claim that the PKK
has used the EU membership process as a means of obtaining everything
it wanted from Turkey in the 1990s and that if the ongoing process
continues, it will lead to the replacement of Turkey's nation-state
structures with a multi-national partnership model that would be a
candidate for partition "at the first opportunity" just like
Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Belgium.

b) New strategic balances

In an article entitled "The new eastern frontier of the west, the new
western frontier of the east", in Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul
cites US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent statement warning
that a US security umbrella will be established in the Middle East as
an indication along with the Georgia crisis, "the new mission defined
for Iraq," recent developments involving Afghanistan and Pakistan, and
Western "interventions in the Russian-Chinese-Indian triangle" that the
United States and Europe have redefined their Eastern border. He
asserts that whereas the old Western frontier used to be Eastern
Europe, the Straits, and the Suez Canal, it has now been extended to
the Eastern Black Sea region, the Iranian-Turkish border, and the
Persian Gulf, adding that the Middle East and Turkey lie within the new
Western borders and that Turkey's regional perspective will be
determined based on this "new geopolitical line" from now on. He also
argues that the West will be using Muslim minorities in China, India,
and "possibly" Russia as a means of destabilizing these countries in
this new period and that the Western goal will be to break the
Russian-Chinese axis, obstruct the formation of anti-Western groups in
Asia, and weaken China's hand by establishing good relations with
Russia.